Synchronized steering and throttle control apparatus for outboard motors



July l1, 1950 L. c. BLACK SYNCHRONIZED STEERING AND THROTTLE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 6, 1949 If i mm QQ. @n mmm QN INVENTOR. es/ef- C. /sck ,QTToR/VEVS July ll, 1950 L. c. BLACK 2,514,467

SYNCHRONIZED STEERING AND THROTTLE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Filed Sept. 6, 1949 '4 Sheets-Sheet 2 'FILE-E- IN V EN TOR. eS/er C. /a c/ 4 TTORNE YS July ll, 1950 L. c. BLACK 2,514,467

sYNcHRoNIzED STEERING AND TRROTTLE coNTRoL APPARATUS RoR ouTBoARD MoToRs Filed Sept. 6, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. f ,Zes/ef- C. /ac

A TTONEYS July ll, 1950 L. c. BLACK sYNcHRoNIzED STEERING AND THROTTLE coN'rRoL APPARATUS RoR ouToARn MoToRs 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filedl Sept. 6, 1949 A 7 TOR/VE V5 Patented July 11, 1950 F 1F ICE SYNCHRGNIZED. SEERINGE 'AND1 THR() TlIJIEl CONTROL' APPARATUS" FORT OUTBOARD Motions-I LesterfC. Black; Long -lseaicln` Calif.v

Application September 6, 1949,A SerialNo; 114,252r4 Tliisiinventionrelates generallytosteering-and throttley control apparatus vsuitable`A forv use with outboard boat motors;-

Conventional outboardl'boat motors make use ofaj-motorepropeller assembly which is* l'irovicled' vvitli"clamping` meansfi or attachment' to tlie-`tran som of ia-b'oa-t When inoperatingpositionv the entireassembly' canbe'swung about a generally vertical 'axis,1corresponding to the 'axis of a pivotal Iconne ction between ther` clamping means -ancl the"motorpropeller-assembly. The upper part of-theassemblyj carries a forwardly extending` steering or tillerarm, toy facilitate steering'onv eratins, and in addition'athrottle lever is providedffor controlling the speed of thc-motor. The throttle-lever is 'generallypivotally mounted upon'- thejm'otor'assemblygon an upright axiswvhich is coincident to or notfar displaced froml the irstmentioned-axis; and the lever extends forwardly? to'a" convenientposition to facilitate changing the f tlirottle setting irr conjunction With-steering operations. Wh'en the tiller arm is'swung'fromone' position-to another; the throttle lever/swings inv @similar-manner, but remains stationary withA respectto its associated mounting.

Itis 'frequently 'desirable "to connect' suchy outboarcl motorsA to vremote steering` devices.l

is A'provideol forwardly of the boat; ancl has a'spool or-wvincndrum'-which-is engagedby a rope or cable: guidesfto the rearn offtheiboat; Where it is' at taclied to" the tillerV arm.

movements;` Onefmetliod of remote throttle operati'n-hasbeen `to disabletlie `standard throttle andbperate the carburetor or mixer throttle clirectlyby aBowden Wire or 'like means extending'- forwardlvj to the steering wheel. Tlis neetliod'of" speed"control'fis=unsatisfactory because it intere feres with normali-'starting and operation' orftlne motor; andin addition it' involves `ran installation 'beyondthe skillof the usual" operator, andone which interferes'ivith rea-dy'attachment'orl ref moval of'the outboarclmotor fromthe'boat.' If" one' attempts toapplv separate independent re'- inote ncontrol" to thefregularr throttle, in addition to the steering'means, then' tlieremotethrottle control Imember necessarily moves in conjunction with changes in the steering-position; and theren foreits position cannot loel used'as'an indication of Tthev actual positionf of the f throttle lever;l

Thus' in one typical type ofinstallation a steering wheel' Thel rope extends through pulleysv orv In conjunction with such remote steering itis desirable toV provide means vvfor-ren1ote throttle operation; This pre-v sente fa serious problem because r`of movement "of the Y throttle lever in conjunction'- with' steering'y 7; Cl'aimsi (Cl. IE5-18) It' isanl ob'j eet' of 'tl-ie present'inventionto provide-an improved-apparatusfor:thezreniote cone trol Tot? outboardf'motors, and-' Which .in particular;

facilita-tes fremote throttle operation.

Another objectief ftheA Ainvention Vis toiprovidefy remote control apparatus of the above character-,1: which Will" make possi-ble v synchronized? throttle amlsteeringl operations and whichrcanib'e rea'd-ilysappl-iedto the prevailing. types of foutb'oard boatimotors.-

Additional-objects :off the inventionwwill i appear: from Ethe following-f'description' inrwhich theifpree ferred embodiments n'have'- beenl set forth'tini detail in conjunction With-the accompanying dawingt; Referring-to tl'ier drawingt' y Fligurel is 1a'= side elevational view,"illustrating` one embodiment ort my invention, -and; diagrama A maticallyf show-ing connections f betweenmy f api#- paratusand-iaiconventional type ofoutboarfhboat motor: l Figure 2? is arzpl'an View ofl the'` apparatuss asf shown in Figure ".l

throttle andi'steeringl'means-'incorporatedginr.tle apparatus-flot Figure l.

Figurerl 4:? is: :a f cross-sectional ivieW,`v takenrgalongfaA consistsv of ati motorepropellerr assemblyf I0;y se!- curedby bracket4 I I to'4 the.1 transom: I Zfof4 armoe-f tor; boat` The "bracketfhasrav pivotal rconnection (not' sh'ovvmfI to the motor-propeller assembly' which perrnitsftheentire .moton-ipropellerrassemfblyto 'becswrung about ageneral vertical axis-*lion steering. f the b'oat:y ,ensuitable, steering: orfl tiller arm I3 is attached to the motor mountingkaml: extends?tomaforwardivpositionfwithinfthe boatzor convenient n engagement ,byi fthe-,rf Handi offri an Y opl-.14 eral-tor; A .cthrottleflever IIfrisalsoarriediby-fther motor mounting, and may be adjusted to change the speed of operation. It is conventional practice to pivotally mount the throttle lever on a pivotal axis which is likewise upright and coincident with or relatively close to the axis about which the motor-propeller assembly swings in steering the boat. The forward end of the throttle leveri 4 extends to a position generally above the tiller arm I3, whereby during steering movements the tiller arm and the throttle lever move substantially in unison.

The apparatus illustrated in Figures l and 2, for the remote steering and throttle control, includes the steering means B, and the throttle control means C.

The steering means B consists in this instance of a hand wheel I6, whichis `iournaled to the mounting bracket I1, and which carries a winding drum I8.

The throttle control means C consists of a base reference member I9, together with the hand operated throttle member 2I. The base member I9 can be in the form of a quadrant as illustrated, and the throttle member 2| can be inthe form of a lever pivoted at 22 to the quadrant.

- Suitable motion transmitting means serves to connect the throttle member 2I to the throttle lever I4 of the outboard motor. For this purpose it is convenient to use the extended pull lines 23a, 23h, which may be in the form of ropes, cables or chains, and which extend over suitable guide means for attachment with the throttle lever I4. Thus line 23a is shown extended over the guide pulley 24 for attachment at 26 to lever I4, and line 23h is shown extending over the guide pulleys 21, 28, 29, guide 3I and pulley 32 for similar attachment at 26 to lever I4.

The quadrant I9 is movably mounted upon the boat, and is interconnected with the steering means. Thus as shown in Figures 3 to 5 inclusive, a pair of parallel guide rods 35, 31 are provided, which are secured at their ends to mounting lug's38, with these lugs in turn being formed upon the base plate 39. Sleeves 40 and 4I slidably embrace the rods 36, 31, and are rigidly attached to the quadrant I9. The base plate 39 is mounted upon the boat with the rods 36, 31 extending horizontally. Thus the quadrant I9 together with lever 2| may move freely for a substantial distance in a horizontal direction.

rIhe motion transmitting means which serves toy connect the steering hand wheel includes the lines 4Ia, 4Ib which are looped about the drum I8. Line 4Ib is shown extending over the guide pulleys 42, 43 and 44, through the guide 3|, and thence over the pulley 46 for attachment at 41 to the steering arm I3. Line 4Ia extends from the drum I8 to a point of connection at 48 to one side of the quadrant I9. The other side of the quadrant is connected at 49 with the line 4Ic, and which extends over the guide pulley 5| for connection with the tiller arm at 41. The length of the lines Illa, 4Ib and 4Ic is such that when the tiller arm I3 is in straight ahead position, the quadrant I9 is midway between the ends of the guide rods 36, 31. When the hand wheel I6 is turned, steering movement is transmittedto the tiller arm I3, and for the extreme steering positions, the quadrant I9 assumes positions near the extremities of the guide rods 36,31.

It will be noted that the point' of connection 26 tothe throttle lever I4 is at a point considerably drums 68, 69, and are arranged to lock the two,`

which is as close as convenient to the point of connection 41 to the steering arm I3. In most instances this will require the use of an extension device 52 which can be readily attached to the throttle lever, and which serves to extend the point of connection as indicated. The point of connection to the tiller arm can likewise be to a suitable clip or clamping devicewhich can be readily applied to the arm.

Operation of the apparatus described above is as follows: The throttle lever I4 can be swung throughout its range of movement by swinging the remote throttle lever 2I. Suitable markings are applied to the quadrant I9 to clearly indicate the start, stop, slow and fast positions of the throttle. Initially the throttle is placed in start position, after which one starts the motor by the customary pull rope. After the motor has started one places the throttle 2I to the position desired, and the boat is steered by turning the handle I6. Although steering movements serve to swing the throttle lever I4 together with the entire motor-propeller assembly of the outboard motor, the remote throttle member 2I maintains a iixed position with respect to the quadrant I9. Therefore the position of the throttle 2| relative to the quadrant indicates at all times the position of the throttle on the motor. In the embodiment of the invention illustrate in Figures 6 to 8 inclusive the steering means B is the same as the embodiment described above.

The throttle means however consists of an an-I nularly contoured casing 56 which is slidably tracked upon the horizontal rail 51. The sides of.

the casing 56, together with the parts mounted` upon the same, move back and forth as a unit along the guide rail 51. The pointer 64 remains relatively stationary with respect to the casing-` When the lever 63 is turned motion is transmitted through the lines 23a, 23h to adjust the throttle lever I4 accordingly.

Figures 9 to ll inclusive illustrate an embodiment in which the steering means and the remote throttle control means are incorporated together as a unitary structure.

61, whereby it can be directly and xedly secured to a convenient part of the boat. Within the housing 66 there are two drums 68, 69, and

shaft 10. Drum 69 is carried by the hub 12, which forms a journal for the shaft 1Q, and which itself is journaled in the forward wall of the casing 66. The drums 68 together with shaft 1U are urged in a forward direction by the com-y Serrated or toothed edges.A

pression spring 13. 14, 15 are formed in the opposed faces of the drums together for unison rotation.

The position of the drum 5B relative. to'drum 69 can be controlled by manual force applied to the throttle member 1I.

In this instance` the casing 66 is provided with mounting flanges Thus when force is. below fthe' plane of the lever, and ina region I5 applied to member 1I to urge the shaft I0 in- 'E5 :zwardlyozthe .two .fdrnmsiarerdisengaged @to permit iindeperfdentrotation. .II-Iowever when. member :.1 l isereleasedpspring:ISereturns:theidrumnlntorthe locked position A:illustrated :1in eEigure.-.;10. n rlihe r6 rmittingimeansito-ecause ,liothrthefbase reference -`member sand zisairll :remote --throttle mem-ber gto move lini.unisonnvhen:steeringnnotionveis applied, yfand means forming armountingfor -both said hand-:wheel 'lBxbyimeansoofnwhichisteeringaforces 5 lreferencemernberiandgsaild-rremotethrottlemoern- .are:applie`d, ziszjdirectly; mounted ,upon-z therhub )T2 :of nthe drum Si). addition-the spokes .of :the steering wheel .rare :shown carrying.. a :reference -nrember :in ithe form rof jarring 'r1 1', fwhichgrmay -carryfsuchuiwords as :'star-t; fiston," rfslow nd fast to visually v:indicate the i relative position of'tl1ethrottle.-` 2.1

Operation of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 9 to lllmclusiveisfastfollows: Turning oi the hand wheel 16 serves to apply steering forces, v

and as this wheel is rotated the throttle member ll rotates together with the ring 11. Drums B, 69 remain locked together as shown in Figure i0-, to rotate in unison. When one desires to change the throttle setting the member 1I is forced in a direction to temporarily separate the drums t8, B9, thus permitting independent rotation of member 'il relative to the steering wheel. When the throttle has been set to the position desired,

it is released, thus permitting the spring 'd3 to return the drum '58 to locked position relative to drum 69.

It will lbe evident from the foregoing that I have provided a relatively simple apparatus which facilitates control of both steering and throttle s.

from a remote point, and which can be installed with conventional types of outboard motors. Remote steering operations are synchronized with application of steering movements in such a manner that steering does not interfere with the throttle setting, and the operator is apprised at all times of the exact throttle setting being used.

I claim:

1. Steering and throttle control apparatus for outboard boat motors, wherein the outboard motor has a forwardly extending tiller member movable laterally for swinging the motor-propeller assembly about an upright axis, and also has a throttle lever pivotally carried by the motor assembly for lateral movement and extending forwardly of said named axis, said apparatus including a remote throttle member adapted to be moved manually, motion transmitting means conneoting said remote member to said throttle lever for operation of the same, a second motion transmitting means connected to the tiller member for operation of the same, a, reference member associated with said throttle member, and means forming a connection between said reference member and said second motion transmitting means to cause both the reference member and said remote throttle member to move in unison when steering motion is applied.

2. Steering and throttle control apparatus for outboard boat motors, wherein the outboard motor has a, forwardly extending tiller member movable laterally for swinging the motor-propeller assembly about an upright axis, and also has a throttle lever pivotally carried by the motor assembly for lateral movement and extending forwardly of said rst named axis, said apparatus including a remote throttle member adapted to be moved manually, motion transmitting means connecting said remote member to said throttle lever for operation of the same, a second motion transmitting means connected to the tiller member for operation of the same, a reference member forming a mounting for said throttle member, means forming a connection betweensaid reference member and said second motion trans- 'iberfto'renable unisonv movement;offlthegsamewhen -`isteering,-forcesxarerapplied. n

3.;\Steering: -fand throttle'econtrol:apparatus;for `outboard ifbpatzimotors, swherein zthe outboard motor Ihaszarforwardhmextendingfrtiller :member imfovablev :laterally for rswinging yithe rmotor- @propeller zfassembly saboutl ran lupi-'ight I:axis 4iand aalsohas athrottle lever,mivotallyacarriedzby the motor assemby:for klateral.-.rnovemen-t :antisenitendmgzforwandiyeofisaidrstinamedraxisrsaid apparatus including a remote throttle member adapted to be moved manually, motion transmitting means connecting said remote throttle member to said throttle lever for operation of the same, a second motion transmitting means connected to the tiller member for operation of the same, a movable reference member forming a mounting for said remote throttle member, means forming a connection between said reference member and said second motion transmitting means to cause both the reference member and said remote throttle member to move in unison when steering motion is applied, and means serving to mount said reference member upon the boat to enable movements of the same in unison with said remote throttle member in response to application of steering forces.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 in which the steering means includes a remote manually operated steering member operatively connected to said second motion transmitting means and having mounting means independent of said throttle member and said reference member.

5. Steering and throttle control apparatus for outboard motors, wherein the outboard motor has a forwardly extending tiller member movable laterally for swinging the motor-propeller assembly about an upright axis and also has a throttle lever pivotally carried by the motor assembly for lateral movement about and extending forwardly of said rst named axis, said apparatus including a remote throttle member adapted to be moved manually, motion transmitting means connecting said remote throttle member to said throttle lever for operation of the same, a movable reference member associated with said throttle member to indicate the throttling position of the latter, a movable remote steering member, a second motion transmitting means connecting said remote steering member to said tiller arm, and i'eleasable means for locking said steering member to said remote throttle member.

6. Steering and throttle control apparatus for outboard boat motors, wherein the outboard motor has a forwardly extending tiller arm for swinging the motor-propeller assembly about an upright axis and also has a throttle lever pivotally carried by the motor assembly for lateral movement and extending forwardly of said first named axis, said apparatus including motion transmitting lines connected to the tiller arm and to said throttle lever and extending forwardly of the motor-propeller assembly for remote operation, a pair of concentric drums about which said lines are looped for operation of the same, manual means for individually rotating each of said drums, and means for releasably locking said drums together for conjoint rotation.

7. Steering and throttle control apparatus for outboard boat motors wherein the outboard `motor has a forwardly extending tiller member for swinging the motor-propeller assembly about an upright axis and also has a throttle lever Vpivotally carried by the .y motor assembly for flateral movement and extending forwardly of said rst named axis, said apparatus including a pair of motion transmitting lines-connected to J the tiller arm and to the throttle lever and extending forwardly of the boat for remote operation,.a pair of concentric drums .about which -said lines are wound, ya; hand wheel attached fto one of said drums, a manually operable throttle member attached to the other one of fsaid drums, means for` releasably locking said drums together for unison rotation, said means 'being operable by axial movement of one of said drums relative to the other, spring means for urging said drums toward locked position of the same, said drums being movable to disengage position by force applied to said throttle member, and a reference member rotatable in unison with the drum to which the steering wheel is attached, said reference member serving to indicate the angular position of the throttle member relative to the hand wheel.

LESTERZC. BLACK.

No references cited. 

